Dental hygiene assembly

ABSTRACT

An elongated housing enclosing a supply of toothpaste as well as a toothbrush and with the toothbrush supported lengthwise within the housing and in a manner to have the head end of the toothbrush projected from the corresponding end of the housing. An exteriorly located slide is provided on the exterior of the housing and operably coupled to the toothbrush for extending and retracting the toothbrush relative to the housing. Further, structure operable from the exterior of the housing is provided for pumping toothpaste from the supply of toothpaste within the housing and conveying the toothpaste to the head end of the toothbrush for deposit thereon. In addition, the structure by which the toothpaste is pumped from the supply thereof to the head end of the toothbrush includes a reciprocal actuator which is capable of supporting the toothpaste conveyed to the brush head along the free ends of the bristles of the toothbrush while the latter is maintained in a fully recessed position within the housing.

. United States Patent 1191 1 Y 1111- 3,816,007

Fox i 1 June 11, 1974 DENTAL HYGIENE ASSEMBLY [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Daniel W. Fox, Phoenix, Ariz. I An elongated housing enclosing a supply of toothpaste as well as a toothbrush and with the toothbrush supported lengthwise within the housing and in a manner to have the head end of the toothbrush projected from the corresponding end of the housing. An exteriorly [22] Filed: July 24, 1972 located slide is provided on the exterior of the housing [21] Appl. No.: 274,403

[73] Assignees: Anthony E. De Prima; Thomas Aranda, Jr., both of Phoenix, Ariz. a part interest to each and retracting the toothbrush relative to the housing. 1 v i 1 Further, structure operable from the exterior of the [52] U.S. CL... 401/146, 132/84, 401/269 housing is provided for pumping toothpaste from the [51] Int. Cl A46b 11/00 supply of toothpaste within the housing and conveying [58] Field I Search... 401/269, 55, 1 6, 13 89, the toothpaste to the head end of the toothbrush for 401/149, 15 157'; 11 /3 deposit thereon. In addition, the structure by which Y the toothpaste is pumped from the supply thereof to [56] 1 References Cited: i i the head end of the toothbrush includes a reciprocal UNITED STATES PATENTS actuator which is capable of supporting the toothpaste 1 615 999 2/1927 Perelman"; 401 i155 conveyed to the brush head along the free ehds of the l 959 126 5/1934 De Luca H 401/155 bristles of the toothbrush While the latter is maintained 23793.792 5/1957 Pilkington.... 401/150 x in a fully recessed Position Within the housing 3,613,698 10/1971 Fox .....132/84 3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm Clarence A.'OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson and operably coupled to the toothbrush for extending PATENTEDJ N 1 1 1914 3.816007 SHEET 1 0F 2 DENTAL HYGIENE'ASSEMBLY I In addition, the dental hygiene unit of the instantinvention has been constructed to provide a fountain toothbrush which may have the supply of toothpaste thereof more readily replenished.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dental hygiene unit which will be capable of pumping.

toothpaste from the supply of toothpaste therein to the head of the associated toothbrush and spreading the toothpaste along the toothbrush head as a result of a single movement of a pumpactuator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dental hygiene assembly in accordance with the immediately preceding object and which will be operative to dispense toothpaste along the head of the associated toothbrush independent of movement of the toothbrush relative to the housing portion of the invention in a direction to extend the toothbrush from the hous- A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a dental hygiene assembly in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which ,will become subsequently apparent residein the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

wherein like numerals refer to likeparts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedental hygiene assembly of the instant invention with the housing thereof in a fully closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but with the pump actuator portion of the housing in an extended position preparatory to being returned to its storage position for the purpose of pumping toothpaste to and spreadingtoothpaste along the head of the associated toothbrush, the latter not being illustrated in FIG. 2; 7

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but with the end doors of the housing through which the toothbrush is projectable in the open position and with the toothbrush illustrated in a projected position;

FIG. 4 is'a perspective view of a closed flexible container of toothpaste to'be received in the upper portion of the interior of the housing and positioned in operative association-with the pump structure 'of the dental hygiene assembly for pumping toothpaste from the container to the associated toothbrush;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal centerline of the dental hygiene assembly with the v 2 various components thereof positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1; I

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along the centerline of the assembly as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but with the pump actuator por tion partially moved through its pumping stroke toward its stored position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal centerline of the assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the planeindicated by the section line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially the 'plane indicated by the section line 10-10 of FIG. 5.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the dental hygiene assembly of the instant invention consisting of a housing referred to in general by the reference'numeral 12 and including a removable top cover 13. The housing 12 includes opposite side walls 14 and 16, a bottom wall 18 and a rear wall 20. In addition, the housing includes a dividing partition 22 extending between the side walls 14 and 16 at an elevation spaced above the bottom wall 18, the latter having a longitudinal slot 24 formed therein. The slot 24 terminates at its forward end a spaced distance from the forward end of the housing 12 and a slide operator 26 is slidingly disposed in the slot 24 and guidingly'supported from the bottom wall 18 for movement'therealong longitudinally of the housing 12.

The housing 12 is closed at its top by means of the top cover 14, the latter including a top wall 28,'opposite side walls 30 and 32 and a rear wall 34.-The lower marginal edge portions of the sidewalls 30 and 32 as well as the lower marginal edge portion of the rear wall 34 are receivable between the upper marginal edge portions of the side walls 14 and 16 and the rear wall 20. A first upper cavity 38 is defined beneath the top cover 13 and above the partition 24 and a second cavity is defined between the partition 22 and the bottom .wall '18, the slot 24 opening into the second cavity which is referred to by the reference numeral 40.

The forward extremity of the partition 22 includes an upstanding partition 42 having a longitudinally extending opening 44 formed therein. In addition, the upper surface of the partition 22 includes an abutment flange 46 spaced rearward of the partition 42 and a closure block 48 is'received within and closes the forwardextremity of the cavity 38, the closure block 48 including a forwardly projecting stud 50 received through the opening 44 and a rearanchor flange portion 52 seated forward of the abutment flange 46.

The upper portion of the closure block 48 includes a rearwardly projecting flanged nipple 54 including an end wall 56 'at its rear end provided with asmall diameter aperture 58.'The block and nipple have a bore 60 formed therethrough terminating rearwardly at the end wall 56 and into which the aperture opens. In addition, the. nipple 54 has a diametric pin 62 secured there through forward of the end wall 56 and a ball check el-- ement 64 is held captive in the bore 60 between the end wall 56 and the pin 62, the ball check element 64 being seatingly engageable in the inner end of the aperture 7 and the piston sleeve 96 within the bore 60 may be utiformed therein and theextreme rear end of the nipple 54- is receivable in the aperture 58 in order to sealingly engage the collapsible tube 66 with the nipple 54. The collapsible tube 66 includes a quantity of toothpaste 72 therein,

A second slide operator 76 including a thumbengageable recess 78 is slidably mounted on the forward end of the housing 12 and includes a top wall 80 and depending opposite side flanges 82 and 84 which are lapped over the forward ends of the side walls 14 and 16, respectively.' The slide operator 76 has an L- shaped passage 86 formed therethrough including a short upstanding leg 88 opening downwardly into a recess 90 formed in the'underside of the topwall 80 and a long leg 92- opening rearwardly into a counterbore 94 which opens through the rear of the slide operator 76 lized to pump the toothpaste 72 from the collapsible tube 66 through the piston sleeve 96 and the passage 86. When first applying the collapsible tube 66 tothe nipple 54, the collapsible tube 66 is compressed until sufiicient quantities of toothpaste have been expressed therefrom to fill the piston sleeve 96 and the passage 86. Thereafter, the slide operator 76 is shifted forwardly from the position thereof illustrated in FIG. of

and has the forward end of a piston sleeve 96 seated largement 40' disposed forward of the partition 62 and downwardly into which the recess 90 opens. A reed valve 102 has its rear end secured in the rear'end portion of the recess 90 and the forward end of the reed valve 102 is downwardly displaceable in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings so as to open thelower end of the short leg 88 of the passage 86 into the lateral enlargement or extension of the second cavity 40. The forward end of the housing 12 is removably closed by means of a pair of pivotally supported andapertured end gates 106 and a permanent shank portion 108 of a toothbrush referred to in general by the reference numeral 110 is slidably disposed within the second cavity 40. The shank or shank portion 108 includes a relieved portion 112 into which an inner extremity of the slide operator 26 projects and accordingly, the shank portion 108 is coupled to the slide operator 26 for reciprocal movement therewith. The forward end portion of the shankportion 108 is projectable through the forward end of the housing 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings and has the rear end of the forward shank portion 1 14 of the toothbrush 110 'removably coupledthereto, the toothbrush 110 including bristles 116 on its forward end defining the head end of the toothbrush 110. The bristles 116 or headend of the toothbrush 1-10 is projectable through the forward end of the housing 12 and is fully seatable within the lateral extension 40' of the second cavity 40 inwardly of the door 106 when the latter are closed, see

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

In operation, the top cover 13 may be removed in order to provide access to the nipple 54. If a supply of toothpaste is to be placed within the assembly 10, the cap 118 of the collapsible tube 66 is removed and the tube 66 is placed within the housing 12 with the rear end of the nipple 54 received in the bore or aperture 70. Thereafter, the top cover 13 is replaced and the pumping mechanism comprising the slide operator 76' the drawings to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 whereupon the reed valve 102 will remain closedand a partial vacuum will be formed in the rear end of the bore 60 to draw toothpaste 72 from withinthe tube 66 into the rear end of the bore60 past the ball check element 64. Thereafter, the slide operator 76 is pushed rearwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 6 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 whereupon the ball check element' 64 will seat in the innerend of the aperture 58 and toothpaste 72 will be expressed outwardly of the lower end of the short leg 88 of the passage 86 past the reed valve 102 onto the upper ends of the bristles 116 of the brush 110 as the uncovered portion of the recess moves rearwardly along the bristles 116-. Thus, toothpaste is expressed from the passage 86 onto the upper ends of the bristles 1-16 in a manner to spread the toothpaste along the head of the toothbrush 110. Thereafter, the slide operator 26 may be displaced forwardly through the slot 24 to project the headend of the toothbrush 1 10 outwardly through the hinged doors or gates 106 at the forward end of the housing 12. The toothbrush may then be used in the conventional man ner with the user of the toothbrush using the housing 12 as a handle for the toothbrush 110. Of course, after use of the toothbrush the latter is rinsed and the slide operator 26 is slid rearwardly through the slot 24 to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings so as to fully retract the toothbrush within the housing. Thereafter, the hinged doors or gates 106 may be swung to theclosed positions thereof. The apertures in the doors 106 serve to provide ventilation whereby the bristles of the toothbrush will dry prior to reuse of the toothbrush. I

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention.

- What is-claimed as new is as follows:

1.1m combination, an elongated housing having front and rear ends and including side-by-side longitudinal first and second cavities, the front end of said second cavity terminating a spaced distance from the front end of said housing and the front end of said first cavity including a lateral extension disposed in front of the front end of said second cavity and opening forwardly through the front end of said housing, said-second cavity having a collapsible paste reservoir disposed therein having a paste outlet in the front end thereof, a toothbrush including handle and bristle ends disposed in said first cavity and extendible and retractable relative to the front end of said housing with said bristle end projecting into said extension when said brush is retracted relative to said front end of said housing, paste conveying means including a reciprocal pump portion opera,-

tive to pump paste from said reservoir to a discharge point opening into the forward end of said extension at the side thereof remote from the first cavity side of said housing, the outlet end of said paste conveying means being supported for movement relative to said housing and toothbrush with said reciprocal .pump portion, whereby toothpaste is discharged from the outlet end of said paste conveying means to be spread along said bristle end of said toothbrush independent of movement of the toothbrush relative to the housing; said paste conveying means including a stationary longitudinal bore defined by said housing and communicated at its rear end with said paste reservoir through a one-way check valve, said reciprocal pump portion including a tubular shank provided with a free end reciprocal in said bore forward of said one-way check valve, the end of said shank remote from said free end thereof being communicated with said discharge point of said paste conveying means.

2. in combination, an elongated housing having front and rear ends and including first and second cavities,

- said-first cavity extending longitudinally of said housing, a toothbrush including handle and bristle ends dis- I posed in said first cavity and extendible and retractable relative to the front end ofsaid housing, said second cavity having a collapsible paste reservoir disposed toothbrush, said paste conveying means including a stationary longitudinal bore defined by said housing and therein, paste conveying means including a reciprocal voir within said housing, the first extendible end of said toothbrush comprising the brush end thereof, and pump meansincluding a reciprocal actuator movable lengthwise of said toothbrush and operative to pump paste from said paste reservoir to a discharge point adjacent the ends of the bristles of said toothbrush when the latter is in a retracted position, said discharge point being carried by said reciprocal actuator whereby as said actuator is shifted longitudinally of said brush the paste discharged from said point will be spread along the brush end of said toothbrush, said housing defining a stationary longitudinal bore communicated at its rear end with said paste reservoir through a one-way check 'valve, said reciprocal actuator including a tubular shank provided with a free end reciprocal in said bore forward of said one-way check valve, the end of said shank remote from said free end thereof being communicated with said discharge point. 

1. In combination, an elongated housing having front and rear ends and including side-by-side longitudinal first and second cavities, the front end of said second cavity terminating a spaced distance from the front end of said housing and the front end of said first cavity including a lateral extension disposed in front of the front end of said second cavity and opening forwardly through the front end of said housing, said second cavity having a collapsible paste reservoir disposed therein having a paste outlet in the front end thereof, a toothbrush including handle and bristle ends disposed in said first cavity and extendible and retractable relative to the front end of said housing with said bristle end projecting into said extension when said brush is retracted relative to said front end of said housing, paste conveying means including a reciprocal pump portion operative to pump paste from said reservoir to a discharge point opening into the forward end of said extension at the side thereof remote from the first cavity side of said housing, the outlet end of said paste conveying means being supported for movement relative to said housing and toothbrush with said reciprocal pump portion, whereby toothpaste is discharged from the outlet end of said paste conveying means to be spread along said bristle end of said toothbrush independent of movement of the toothbrush relative to the housing, said paste conveying means including a stationary longitudinal bore defined by said housing and communicated at its rear end with said paste reservoir through a one-way check valve, said reciprocal pump portion including a tubular shank provided with a free end reciprocal in said bore forward of said one-way check valve, the end of said shank remote from said free end thereof being communicated with said discharge point of said paste conveying means.
 2. In combination, an elongated housing having front and rear ends and including first and second cavities, said first cavity extending longitudinally of said housing, a toothbrush including handle and bristle ends disposed in said first cavity and extendible and retractable relative to the front end of said housing, said second cavity having a collapsible paste reservoir disposed therein, paste conveying means including a reciprocal pump portion operative to pump paste from said reservoir to a discharge point adjacent said bristle end of said toothbrush when the latter is in a retracted position within the housing, said discharge point being carried by said reciprocal pump portion for spreading the paste discharged therefrom along the bristle end of the toothbrush, said paste conveying means including a stationary longitudinal bore defined by said housing and communicated at its rear end with said paste reservoir through a one-way check valve, said reciprocal pump portion including a tubular shank provided with a free end reciprocal in said bore forward of said one-way check valve, the end of said shank remote from said free end thereof being communicated with said discharge point of said paste conveying means.
 3. In combination, a housing enclosing an elongated toothbrush, said toothbrush being supported from said housing for lengthwise extension and retraction of said brush relative to said housing, a collapsible paste reservoir within said housing, the first extendible end of said toothbrush comprising the brush end thereof, and pump means including a reciprocal actuator movable lengthwise of said toothbrush and operative to pump paste from said paste reservoir to a discharge point adjacent the ends of the bristles of said toothbrush when the latter is in a retracted position, said discharge point being carried by said reciprocal actuator whereby as said actuator is shifted longitudinally of said brush the paste discharged from said point will be spread along the brush end of said toothbrush, said housing defining a stationary longitudinal bore communicated at its rear end with said paste reservoir through a one-way check valve, said reciprocal actuator including a tubular shank provided with a free end reciprocal in said bore forward of said one-way check valve, the end of said shank remote from said free end thereof being communicated with said discharge point. 